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saner counsels prevailed. We shall not be so foolish, nor 
so ungrateful to societies more influential than our own, and to 
individuals outside our own body, who organised the campaign 
which saved the cause, as to pretend that it was our own arm 
which brought us the victory ; but at least we may feel glad 
that, both as a society and as individuals, we ranged ourselves 
under the leaders to whom that victory was due, and followed 
wherever they led us, till the fight was won. And I am very 
sure that nowhere—not in the Museum itself, not in the hearts 
of its most potent champions—was there more anxiety over its 
danger, and rejoicing over its escape, than in the Entomological 
Society of London. 
It seems a sort of ‘‘ bathos” to turn from a matter of such 
grave concern to congratulate the Society on the successful 
Conversazione held by it last May. But it is only proper that 
we should remember and acknowledge the great kindness of 
the Linnean Society in placing their splendid Rooms at our 
disposal, And those who know, as I do, how magnificently my 
friend Mr. Wheeler toiled and slaved to make it a success, or 
who listened to the Lectures and examined the Exhibits, will 
feel that as a Society we owe great thanks to not a few of our 
individual Fellows for their public-spirited exertions. Person- 
ally, as I had to stand shaking hands at the top of the staircase 
most of the evening, my enjoyment was, perhaps, rather mono- 
tonous. But I know that the Conversazione was thoroughly 
enjoyed by many who were present at it; and I may say that 
I know also of more cases than one in which those who were 
then the Society’s guests have since become its Fellows. 
T ought not to leave unmentioned a coming event in which 
at least as individuals it may be presumed that we all feel 
interested, and in which at the proper time I hope that, as a 
Society, we may be allowed to express our interest. I allude, 
of course, to the International Congress of Entomologists which 
will assemble next autumn at Oxford, under the presidency of 
Professor Poulton. I believe it will be felt not a duty only, 
but a pleasure, by every British entomologist, to do anything 
that may lie in his power to contribute to the success of that 
very important gathering. And for any information that any 
one here may wish to receive on the subject, I venture to refer 
